Have we reached our peak?

[great_fire]

I don't think many current day fans would defect to a 'rival' if their team went under. I know Barnsley is on your doorstep Grist but would you go there if RUFC ceased to exist. It would probably take a least one and probably more generations before it became 'acceptable' for fans to migrate (although I know many do so already a.k.a. Rotherham Owls).

From a business point of view it would make sense if Rotherham, Barnsley and Donny Rovers merged, obviously not from a fans point of view.

[Brin]

From a business point of view it would make sense if Rotherham, Barnsley and Donny Rovers merged, obviously not from a fans point of view.

Who’d be in charge?

[millertop]

Who’d be in charge?

Where would we play?

If we ever merged with them then that’s 100% I would pack in going to games

[Brin]

Basically football in the EFL is over capacity.

A finite number of fans shared amongst too many clubs.

For our core support to increase we would need to see one or more local clubs going bust. For example we could pick up fans from Donny or Barnsley. It would of course have to coincide with us doing well to act as the “ magnet”

The same applies to Lancashire with Oldham, Rochdale etc

The number of fans prepared to get out of their armchairs and travel to a live match are getting less and less

Plus the ‘magic’ stick hasn’t helped. Apparently from the comfort of your armchair in all weathers outside, you can watch any game any time, this I believe is seeing attendances fall or, not increase.

[Brin]

Imagine a team called Barncastham Utd ?

[jocksgloves]

Mmm.... South Yorkshire Reds playing in a Mega stadium in Mexbo' by 2050. I can see that.

[Townerslovechild]

Football club mergers will never happen, look at the hatred of MK from Wimbledon fans, and that wasn't even a merger.

[crookadile]

I remember the proposed merger between Reading and Oxford. They were going to be called Thames Valley Royals if the merger went through. Went down like a lead balloon with the fans.